How do I know if my baby is getting enough formula?

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The best way to know if your baby’s getting enough formula is to let her set the pace. If your baby’s hungry, feed her for as long as she is eager to drink. If she starts losing interest, you can burp her and then try again. Let your baby be the guide.

If you’re unsure that your baby’s hungry, watch her for clues. If she wants a feed, she may start rooting, which means she will turn her head and open her mouth towards your chest. She may also make some sucking motions and bring her hands to her mouth. She may also cry when she is really hungry. If your baby gives you any of these signs, she probably wants to be fed, regardless of what the clock says.

You can also make sure your baby’s getting enough formula by measuring. Your baby will want about 150ml to 200ml of formula milk per kilogram of her body weight each day. Bear in mind that your baby may want less than this in her first week, before she settles down to a pattern of feeding.

So, if your baby weighs 3kg, she'll need about 450ml to 600ml of formula over a 24-hour period to satisfy her hunger.

You can carry on using this rough calculation until your baby starts solids when she’s about six months old. After this, the amount of milk she needs will reduce as her intake of other foods increases.

Of course, these measurements are only a rule of thumb. Just as your appetite varies with each meal, your baby isn't going to take exactly the same amount at each feed. So don't force your baby to finish a bottle, even if there is only a little bit left.

Another good way of knowing if your baby’s getting enough milk is to keep track of her wet nappies. In the first couple of days she may only wet a few nappies. But after that, at least six nappies a day should be soaked through with clear to pale yellow wee. Any less and she won’t be getting enough milk, which will make her dehydrated.

Bottle-fed babies usually need to poo at least once a day, so this is another sign that she is feeding well. Your baby’s first poo, called meconium, is dark and sticky. Your baby’s poo will then gradually change to a pale yellow or yellowish-brown colour within the first week.

Your baby will be checked over and weighed by your midwife or health visitor. If your baby is gaining weight, that’s another sign she’s healthy and feeding well.

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